David Bull Exits Driskill: Josh Watkins Named New Exec Chef

When David Bull took over the helm at the Driskill Grill seven years ago, the restaurant was in such desperate straits that it had resorted to hosting those dreaded mystery dinners.

Seven years later, The Driskill is a permanent resident of our Top 20 restaurants, indeed our Top Five restaurants. This is all thanks to Chef Bull. His passion and skill in the kitchen have resonated far beyond Austin resulting in a truckload of national awards and recognition.

And I STILL think he beat Bobby Flay on their recent Iron Chef showdown on the Food Network.

Bull will join former Driskill GM Jeff Trigger in his hotel consulting group. And I will spend the next several months (at least) lamenting his absence.

The Driskill wasted little in promoting Chef de Cuisine Josh Watkins to the Executive Chef position. I believe this was an excellent move. Watkins has a great background (the Black Cat in San Francisco and the French Room at the prestigious Adolphus hotel in Dallas) and has worked closely with Bull for the past several years. I expect the transition will be seamless.